Cutter chain



` July 12, 193s. L E, SIMMONS 2,123,213

CUTTER CHAIN Filed Dec. 22, 1.936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 22, 1936L. E.' SIMMONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w MMM' Patented July 12, 1938 UNITEDSTATES CUTTER CHAIN Leon E. Simmons, Claremont, N. H., assignortoSullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationDecember 22, 1936, Serial No. 117,188

9 Claims'.

This invention relates to cutter chains, and more particularly, but notexclusively, relates to improvements in mining machine cutter bits andbit holders.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved cutter bithaving a plurality of cutting points whereby when one cutting pointbecomes dull, another sharp point may be presented to the work.l Anotherobject is to provide an improved cutter bit of the four-point typehaving a pair of spaced cutting points at each end of the bit body. Afurther object is to provide an improved holder for a cutter bit. Astill further object is to provide an improved cutter chain having animproved chain block structure for receiving and supporting a reversiblecutter bit whereby the cutter chain may be readily reversed simply byreversing the position of the cutter bit and the bit holding means withrespect to the chain block structure. These and other objects andadvantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fullyappear. A

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes ofillustration several forms which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings, I

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a section of a cutter chain havingembodied therein one illustrative form of the improved cutter bit andbit holding means. i

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the cutter chain shown in Fig. 1,with the strap links shown in cross section. Y

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section takensubstantiallyon line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view oi the improved cutter bit.

` Fig. 5' is a perspective view of the improved bit holder clamp.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 6 6 of Fig.4.

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the chain block shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modiiied form ofconstruction.

Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of the cutter chain shown in Fig. 8,with the strap links shown in cross section, and parts incomplete.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the bit holder clamp. i

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 8, showing still anothermodified form of construction.

Fig. 12 is an end elevational view of the cutter chain shown in Fig. 11,with the strap links shown in cross section, and parts incomplete.

In the illustrative construction disclosed in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, Idesignates a chain block and 2 the usual strap links, the latterpivotally Connected to the chain block by pivot pins 3. The chain blockI has oppositely inclined front 5 and rear sockets `4 having their innersurfaces converging inwardly and communicating with a central opening 5.The front and rear walls of the chain block I are formed with threadedopenings 6 and 1, these openings being relatively in- 10 clinedoutwardly, and threaded within the front opening 6 is a clamping screw 8for engaging a cutter bit holding clamp 9. The improved cutter bit hasfour cutting points lll, II, I2 and I3 disposed at the corners of arectangle and has a body I4, two of whose sides follow sides of suchrectangle, and which is deep-ly notched at I5 and I6 between the pairsof points respectively, at the opposite ends of said sides. In otherwords, the bit body I4 is formed at each end with `spaced projections,the inner `edges of which extend along lines converging at thelongitudinal center of the bit, and parallel lateral edges, the innerconverging edges of the projections and said parallel edges terminatingin the cutting points I0, II, I2 and I3 at the extremities of the spacedprojections. The converging sides of the notched portions of the bitbody between the pairs of points form the forward cutting faces of thecutting points when the latter are supported in cutting position withrespect to the chain block. The bit body, in this instance, is formedwith parallel plane sides I1 and I8 and lateral edges I9 and 20, theplane sides connected with the lateral edges by means of curved surfaces2|. When the cutter bit is placed in cutting position within the chainblock sockets 4in the manner shown in Fig. 3, the cutting face of therear inactive cutting point I2 engages, at 22, a surface on the chainblock, while the face of the rear inner inactive cutting point I3engages a` surface on the chain block at 23, and the forward portion ofthe edge 20 at the inner side of the bit rests against the inclinedbottom surface of the front socket 4. In this illustrative construction,the 4r clamp 9 is formed with a rounded projection 24 in the form of apivot seated within a socket formed in the forward face of the chainblock, and the opposite end of the clamp is provided with a projection26 overlying and engaging the face of the front inner inactive cuttingpoint II of the cutter bit, so that at that time the outer front cuttingpoint I D is active, with the bit body rigidly clamped within thesockets of the chain block. When the screw B is tightened, the clamppivots about the point of engagement of the rounded projection with thesocket 25 so that the clamping projection 26 is swung inwardly to clampthe faces of the cutting points |2 and I3 against the surfaces on thechain block and the forward portion of the edge 20 tightly against thebottom surface of the front socket 4. When the cutting point l0 becomesdull, the screw 8 may be loosened and the clamp swung upwardly so thatthe cutter bit may be Withdrawn from the chain block sockets and may beturned laterally edge for edge to present the sharp cutting point inactive cutting position, the face of the rear inactive cutting point I3at that time engaging the chain block at 22, while the face of the rearinactive cutting point I2 engages-the chain block at 23, and the edge I8of the bit adjacent the front inactive cutting point I0 engages thebottom surface of the front socket 4. Thereafter the clamp may be placedin proper clamping position with respect to the bit and the screw 8tightened to clamp rigidly the bit in place on the chain block. As thecutting points become dull, the cutter bit may be turned sidewise andend for end until all of the four cutting points have been used. Afterthe cutting points all become dull, the cutter bit, due to itsrelatively inexpensive design, may be discarded and replaced with a newbit, thereby eliminating the necessity of re-sharpening and the expenseinvolved in the provision of re-sharpening equipment. The position ofthe cutter bit and its holding means may be reversed with respect to thechain block by releasing the screw from the threaded opening 6 andreversing the position of the clamp with respect to the chain block sothat the clamp engages a socket in the rear face of the block and thescrew is threaded within the other opening 1. The position of the cutterbit is then reversed within the socket with respect to the chain blockand, thereafter, upon tightening of the clamp, the bit is rigidly heldin position, and when all the bits are reversed it is possible tooperate the cutter chain in a reversedirection. Y A

In the modied form of construction shown in Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive,Vthe cutter bit is identical to that shown in Fig.` 4. In this instancethe chain block 30 is formed with a longitudinal bore 3| for receiving aclamping bolt 32 having a forward clamping head 33. The rear end o f theclamping bolt is threaded at 34 for the reception of a tightening nut35. In this instance, the front and rear chain block sockets 4, 4communicate with the central opening 5 and the latter in turncommunicates with the longitudinal bore 3|, and the clamping bolt 32 isformed with a longitudinal slot 36 for receiving the inner inactivecutting point of the bit in Athe manner shown. The clamping head 33 hasaclamping projection 31 engaging the face of the inner inactive forwardcutting point of the bit,r in a manner similar to the projection 26 ofthefclampfl in the form of the invention above described, for clampingthe bit in cutting positionl within the front and rear sockets 4, 4 ofthe chain block with the outer forward cutting point of the bit inactive cutting position. In this instance, the clamping head has a planeinner surface 38 engaging a corresponding plane surface 39 on thechainrblock for maintaining the clamping bolt against rotative movementwith respect to the chain block. As in the form of the invention abovedescribed, the faces of the rearward inactive cutting points engagesurfaces on the chain block at 22 and 23, with the forward portion ofthe inner bottom edge of the bit body engaging the inclined bottomsurface of the front socket 4. When it is desired to reverse theposition of the cutter bit with respect to the chain block, the clampingbolt may be turned end for end within the bore 3| and the bit reversedwithin the chain block` sockets, and thereafter the bolt tightened toclamp the bit in its reversed position on the block. When the activecutting point of the bit becomes dull, the position of the bit may bechanged within the chain block sockets, as in the form of the inventionabove described, so as to present a sharp cutting point to the work.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 11 and 12, thecutter bit and the chain block sockets are the same as those abovedescribed in the other forms of the invention. In this illustrativeconstruction the chain block 43 has a longitudinal bore 4| internallythreaded to receive a clamping screw 42. As in the forms of theinvention above described, the front and rear sockets 4, 4 communicatewith the central opening 5; and the latter in turn communicates with thelongitudinal bore 4|. The head of the screw engages a clamp 43 having aclamping projection 44 engaging the face of the forward inner inactivecutting point of the bit for clamping the bit in the chain block socketsin the same manner as that above described in the other forms of theinvention. The rear inner inactive cutting point of the bit extendsthrough the central opening 5 within the longitudinal bore at that time,in the manner shown in Fig. 11. The clamp 43 has a plane inner surface45 engaging a corresponding plane surface 46 on the chain block forpreventing lateral displacement of the clamp during the clampingoperation. As in the forms of the invention above described, theclamping screw, clamp and bit may be reversed with respect to the chainblock so that the bit may be clamped in reverse cutting position on theblock, the screw 42 at that time being released from the front portionof the threaded bore and inserted in the opposite end of the threadedbore, with the clamp arranged at the opposite end face of the chainblock. The cutter bit may similarly be re-positioned within the blocksockets to present a sharp cutting point to the work when the previouslyacting cutting point becomes dull.

As a result of this invention, it will be noted that an improved cutterchain is provided having an improved cutter bit and improved cutter bitholding means. It will further be noted that an improved cutter bit isprovided having a plurality of cutting points, two points on each end ofthe bit body, and having associated therewith improved supporting meanswhereby the bit may be supported in four different operative cuttingpositions. It will also be evident that by the provision of the improvedbit holding structure, the cutter bit may be held in reversed cuttingposition on the chain block, thereby to enable the cutter chain tooperate' in either of opposite directions. Other uses and advantages ofthe improved cutter chain will be clearly apparent to those skilled inthe art. f

While there are in this application specifically described several formswhich the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthese forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and thatthe invention maybe further modified and embodied in various other formswithout departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

Cil

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a socket, a double-endedcutter bit having pairs of cutting faces terminating in cutting points,with two cutting points at each of the opposite ends of the bit, saidbit receivable in said socket, the faces of the rearward inactivecutting points of the bit engaging surfaces on the chain block and theforward portion of the inner edge of the bit body engaging the innersurface of said socket, and means carried by the` block and engaging thebit for securing the bit in cutting position Within said socket.

2. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a socket, a double-endedcutter bit having pairs of cutting faces terminating in cutting points,with two cutting points at each of the opposite ends of the bit, saidbit receivable in said socket, the faces of the rearward inactivecutting points of the bit engaging surfaces o-n the chain block and theforward portion of the inner edge of the bit body engaging the innersurfacel of said socket, and means carried by the block and engaging thebit for securing the bit in cutting position within said socket with itsforward outer cutting point in active cutting position, said securingmeans engaging said bit in advance of said active cutting point.

3. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a socket, a double-endedcutter bit having pairs of cutting faces terminating in cutting points,with two cutting points at each of the opposite ends of the bit, saidbit receivable in said socket, the faces of the rearward inactivecutting points of the bit engaging surfaces on the chain block and theforward portion of the inner edge of the bit body engaging the innersurface of said socket, and means carried by the chain block andengaging the face of the forward, inner, inactive cutting point of thebit for securing the bit in cutting position Within the chain blocksocket.

4. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a socket, a double-endedcutter bit having pairs of cutting faces terminating in cutting points,with two cutting points at each of the opposite ends of the bit, saidbit receivable in said socket, the faces of the rearward inactivecutting points of the bit engaging surfaces on the chain block and theforward portion of the inner edge of the bit body engaging the innersurface of said socket, and means carried by the chain block andengaging the face of the forward, inner, inactive cutting point of thebit for securing the bit in cutting position within the chain blocksocket with the forward outer cutting point in active cutting position,said securing means engaging the front inactive cutting point of the bitin advance of said active cutting point.

5. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a bit receiving socket, adouble-ended reversible cutter bit having cutting faces terminating inpairs of cutting points with a pair of cutting points at each end of thebit body, said bit receivable in said block socket, the faces of therearward inactive cutting points engaging surfaces on the chain block,and a clamp adjustably secured to the chain block and engaging the faceof the inner, forward, inactive cutting point of the bit for clampingthe bit within said block socket with 5 the forward outer cutting pointin active cutting position.

6. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a socket and a longitudinalbore, a double-ended reversible cutter bit having cutting facesterminating in pairs of cutting points with a pair of cutting points ateach end of the bit body, said bit receivable in said block socket, thefaces of the rearward inactive cutting points of the bit engagingsurfaces on the chain block, and a l5 clamping bolt receivable in saidlongitudinal bore and havingl a clamping portion engaging the face ofthe inner, forward, inactive cutting point of the bit for securing thebit in said chain block socket with the forward outer cutting point inactive cutting position.

7. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a bit receiving socket and alongitudinal bore, said bore internally threaded, a double-endedreversible cutter bit having cutting faces terminating in pairs ofcutting points with a pair of cutting points at each end of the bitbody, said bit receivable in said socket, the faces of the rearwardinactive cutting points of the bit engaging surfaces on the chain block,a clamp engaging the face of the inner, forward, inactive cutting pointof the bit for clamping the bit within said socket with the forwardouter cutting point in active cutting position, and a screw threadedwithin said longitudinal bore and engaging said clamp for adjusting thelatter.

8. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a socket, a cutter bit havingfour cutting points and receivable in said socket selectively in fourdifferent cutting positions, said bit having a pair of rearwardlylocated surfaces engageable with spaced surfaces on the block at therear end of said socket and a forward inner surface engag ing the innersurface of the socket, and means carried by the block and engaging afourth surface on the bit for securing the bit in cutting positionwithin said socket.

9. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a socket, a cutter bit havingfour cutting portions terminating in cutting points, whereby fourcutting points are provided, and adapted to be placed successively inany one of four cutting positions upon the block, said bit insertible insaid socket with one cutting portion projecting outwardly with itscutting point in cutting position, said socket having a pair of spacedsurfaces engaging surfaces on two of said cutting portions rearwardly ofsaid outwardly projecting cutting portion and a third surface engaging aside surface of the bit, and adjustable means on the block engaging afourth surface, on the remaining cutting portion of the bit, to clampthe bit in cutting position in said block socket.

LEON E. SIMMONS. 05

